Salt intake during pregnancy influences offspring organ growth (1087.2)

Abstract

Introduction: Industrialized food consumption is responsible for high salt ingestion, mainly in western countries. Circulating and tissue renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) activity is influenced by the degree of salt intake. RAS is responsible for blood pressure regulation and hydroelectrolitic balance. High salt intake during gestation may influence the health of adult offspring. As a working hypothesis, the alterations observed in generation F1 may be transmitted to generations F2 and F3. Therefore, in this study some effects of high salt diet during gestation were evaluated in adult male rats of generation F1.Material and Methods: Fifteen adult male Wistar rats, born from mothers fed normal (N group, n=9) or high salt diet (H group, n=6) during the whole gestation, were followed from birth until 15 weeks of age. Body and organs weight (heart, adrenals, kidneys, testicles, epididimes, and retroperitoneal fat), urinary sodium and potassium and creatinine excretion were measured. Daily sperm production and sperm transit time in the epididymal cauda were evaluated by counting homogenization‐resistant testicular spermatids or epididymal spermatozoa, respectively.Results: (mean±SEM) Parameter N H p value Body weight (g) 458.78±25.93 438.08±20.91 0.128 Retroperitoneal fat (mg/g) 5.03±2.92 8.24±1.52 0.029 Left testis/body mass (mg/g) 3.50±0.31 3.92±0.30 0.022 Right kidney/body mass (mg/g) 3.21±0.12 3.59±0.17 <0.001 Left kidney/body mass(mg/g) 3.34±0.21 3.60±0.18 0.026 Heart/body mass (mg/g) 3.38±0.23 3.79±0.40 0.024 Sperm production (x106/g/day) 13.05±1.92 12.51±2.65 0.648 Sperm transit time (days) 7.93±0.39 6.99±0.99 0.331 Discussion: Damages on cardiovascular and renal systems caused by high salt intake are well documented and molecular mechanisms are still been studied. Reproductive alterations have been reported, regarding both male and female performance. Our results disclosed higher kidney, heart, testicles and adipose tissue mass in the first generation born from mothers fed high salt diet uring gestation indicating a possible disturbance in organ growth. The difference in testicular mass between the experimental groups was not accompanied by functional alterations.Grant Funding Source: Support by FAPESP (2012/22415‐5, 2012/22801‐2)